The purpose of this study is to learn more about the effects of walnuts, walnut-oil, almonds and fish oils on blood sugar and insulin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. The hypothesis is that a diet rich in these foods will improve insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Subjects will follow their usual diet for 4 weeks; after that they will be randomized to walnuts. They will eat walnuts once daily for six weeks.

Active Comparator: almonds

Patients will be randomized to receive almonds

Dietary Supplement: almonds

Subjects will follow their usual diet for 4 weeks; after that they will be randomized to almonds. They will eat almonds once daily for six weeks.

Detailed Description:

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common disease that affects 1 out of 16 women. Metabolic and endocrine abnormalities seen in PCOS include insulin resistance, androgen excess and infertility. This study focuses on the insulin resistance aspect because increased insulin resistance leads to premature onset of impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes whereas decreased insulin resistance reduces androgen excess, improves the ovarian function and increases fertility. Although insulin resistance can be treated with insulin-sensitizing drugs, PCOS clinically manifests during adolescence and the long-term safety of the drug-treatment can be a concern. Thus, improving insulin resistance with effective nutritional approaches would be very desirable. Epidemiological studies and animal experiments suggest that replacement of dietary saturated fats with monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fats improves insulin resistance.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 45 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome

Body mass index (BMI) 22-52

Exclusion Criteria:

Habitual dietary intake of less than 30% fat

Use of oral contraceptives, insulin sensitizers, d-chiro inositol, or any other supplements affecting weight or insulin sensitivity during the preceding two months

Impaired glucose tolerance

Diabetes mellitus

Other system illnesses such as renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, severe hyperlipidemia and hypertension that require medication

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00579904